A Mixed Bag...

Right now my feelings toward this class are quite mixed.  My comfort with technology has always been strong, just as long as the conversation didn't get too technical.  Well, guess what?  It got technical!  When the conversation turns from how to use it, to how it works, my stomach churns a little.  I have always learned as much as I could about the "how to use it" but shied away from learning too much about how the technology worked.  I want to clarify that this isn't because I don't want to know the specifics of how to the tools that I love using actually work, but more so because just becoming confident in using them is a process in itself.  Learning the components of a tool or piece of software, options I have with each, how to implement it in my class, is it a teacher tool, student/teacher tool, or a student tool, and countless other questions, plus the other day-to-day thoughts and concerns with my students and lessons.  I welcome the chance to learn more about the bones of the tools that I have come to love to use in my teaching, but also overwhelmed with the amount of new information that is constantly pouring into my brain.

The virus investigation was interesting for me because I am a Mac user who has been one of those people who thought, "it's a Mac, it can't get a virus."  It was shocking to see how many antivirus programs are out there for a computer that is pretty safe when it comes to viruses.   I also feel more knowledgeable when it comes to the amount of virus protection options there are for PC's, should we chose to purchase a PC the next time we are in the market.  Norton has always been the protection of choice, but looking back on it, mostly due to the lack of knowledge on other products and simply trusting the product without doing much additional research on quality, performance, or other options.

The Wonderful World of Technology

I always thought of myself as someone who was fairly knowledgeable and secure with my capabilities when it came to technology.  After Thursday night's class, I definitely took a step back and questioned how much I really knew.  While I am always looking for new ways to incorporate technology into the classroom, that search often includes blinders.  I look for things that are marketed towards schools, kids, and learning, instead of looking at technology options as a whole and asking how it can be tailored towards students.

In my classroom, I am extremely fortunate to have an Activboard to help facilitate instruction with the inclusion of technology on a daily basis.  We also have student response systems that can be used for tests, polls, and as another way for students to participate in class discussions.  These tools have opened up so many opportunities for my students.  We have also started a classroom blog and share the latest classroom updates and activities with our families.  The students have had a chance to participate by sharing photographs and quotes about certain activities that we have done.  Our goal is to start writing a weekly post about our week together so that they can see how the process develops and to experience writing through a different medium.  After being exposed to using Google Docs for class, I have developed a quick interest in looking into how I can use this within my own teaching.


Till next time...